An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309, Saudi civil aviation authorities reported, prompting the temporary suspension of operations at Saudi Arabia’s busiest airport. The casualties included Saudi and foreign nationals, while flights to the Saudi capital were diverted or cancelled as authorities assessed damage and inspected airport facilities for safety.
The strike reportedly hit a passenger terminal complex serving domestic flights, although the full extent of property damage remained under assessment. Some of the injured were in critical condition and were receiving treatment at hospitals across Riyadh.
Saudi authorities did not initially identify those responsible. The Saudi-led coalition later blamed Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which had claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on Riyadh airport during the same week. The latest incident was reportedly the third attack targeting the airport in a matter of days; earlier strikes killed Saudi nationals, including a pilot, and disrupted operations at other Saudi airports.
Kuwait Airways, Air India, flydubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines were among the carriers suspending or cancelling services involving Riyadh or other Saudi airports. Several governments also advised their citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas. The timing of the airport’s reopening and the final damage assessment remained unclear.